Mountable laptop caddy

ABSTRACT

A mountable laptop caddy including a frame having an elongated U-shape. The frame includes a base and sidewalls upstanding from the base defining a receptacle therebetween. An open first side is defined between first side edges of the sidewalls, an open top is defined between upper edges of the sidewalls, and an open second side is defined between second side edges of the sidewalls. A mounting bracket is coupled to at least one of the upper edges of the sidewalls of the frame. Connectors are configured to couple the mounting bracket to a desk.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/575,884, filed Oct. 23, 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laptop caddy and, more particularly, to a laptop caddy that is mountable to a desk.

Laptops are typically used by people who need to transport and use computers in multiple locations. Each laptop user may further have a work desk or a home office desk, in which the laptop is most frequently used. Since laptops only come with one screen, and the screen is typically limited in size, it is common to connect a desktop sized monitor to one's laptop when using the laptop at the work desk or home office desk. Currently, while using a larger monitor, the laptop needlessly sits on the desk, taking up useful desk space.

As can be seen, there is a need for a laptop caddy that is mountable to a desk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a mountable laptop caddy comprises: a frame comprising an elongated U-shape having a base and sidewalls upstanding from the base defining a receptacle therebetween, wherein an open first side is defined between first side edges of the sidewalls, an open top is defined between upper edges of the sidewalls, and an open second side is defined between second side edges of the sidewalls; a mounting bracket coupled to at least one of the upper edges of the sidewalls of the frame; and connectors configured to couple the mounting bracket to a desk.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing a laptop to a desk, the method comprises: providing a laptop caddy comprising: a frame comprising an elongated U-shape having a base and sidewalls upstanding from the base defining a receptacle therebetween, wherein an open first side is defined between first side edges of the sidewalls, an open top is defined between upper edges of the sidewalls, and an open second side is defined between second side edges of the sidewalls; and a mounting bracket coupled to the frame; coupling the mounting bracket to the side of a desk; and placing a laptop into the receptacle through one of the open first side, the open second side, and the open top.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a rear exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention includes a mountable laptop caddy 10. The mountable laptop caddy 10 includes a frame 12, 14 having an elongated U-shape. The frame 12, 14 includes a base and sidewalls upstanding from the base defining a receptacle therebetween. An open first side is defined between first side edges of the sidewalls, an open top is defined between upper edges of the sidewalls, and an open second side is defined between second side edges of the sidewalls. A mounting bracket 18, 20 is coupled to at least one of the upper edges of the sidewalls of the frame 12, 14. Connectors 24, 32, 34 are configured to couple the mounting bracket 18, 20 to a desk 26.

In certain embodiments, the frame 12, 14 may be made of crisscrossing wires, allowing access to power ports and other ports located on the back of the laptop 28. In such embodiments, the base and the sidewalls are made of a plurality of U-bars 12 coupled together by a plurality of cross bars 14. In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a first lip 16 extending between the sidewalls above the base at the open first side and a second lip 16 extending between the sidewalls above the base at the open second side. The first lip 16 and the second lip 16 may also be made of wires and prevents the laptop 28 from sliding out of the receptacle.

In certain embodiments, the mounting bracket 18, 20 includes a hinge. The hinge includes a first hinge leaf 18 pivotally coupled to a second hinge leaf 20. The hinge bracket 18, 20 allows the frame 12, 14 to be mounted anywhere on the desk 26 at different angles. In certain embodiments, the bracket 18, 20 includes a plurality of openings 22. In such embodiments, the connectors 24, 32, 34 include a plurality of screws 24. Alternatively, the connectors 24, 32, 34 may be a hook strip 34 and a loop strip 32 of a hook and loop fastener.

A method of securing a laptop 28 to a desk may include the following steps. Provide the laptop caddy 10 described above. Couple the mounting bracket 18, 20 to the side of a desk 26 using either screws 24, a hook and loop fastener 32, 34 or another type of connector. Place a laptop 28 into the receptacle through one of the open first side, the open second side, and the open top. Connect peripheral devices 30 to laptop ports of the laptop 28 through one of the open first side and the open second side. It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mountable laptop caddy comprising: a frame comprising an elongated U-shape having a base and sidewalls upstanding from the base defining a receptacle therebetween, wherein an open first side is defined between first side edges of the sidewalls, an open top is defined between upper edges of the sidewalls, and an open second side is defined between second side edges of the sidewalls; a mounting bracket coupled to at least one of the upper edges of the sidewalls of the frame; and connectors configured to couple the mounting bracket to a desk.
 2. The mountable laptop caddy of claim 1, wherein the base and the sidewalls are made of a plurality of U-bars coupled to a plurality of cross bars.
 3. The mountable laptop caddy of claim 1, further comprising a first lip extending between the sidewalls above the base at the open first side and a second lip extending between the sidewalls above the base at the open second side.
 4. The mountable laptop caddy of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a hinge comprising a first hinge leaf pivotally coupled to a second hinge leaf.
 5. The mountable laptop caddy of claim 1, wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of openings, and the connectors are a plurality of screws.
 6. The mountable laptop caddy of claim 1, wherein the connectors are a hook and loop fastener.
 7. A method of securing a laptop to a desk, the method comprising: providing a laptop caddy comprising: a frame comprising an elongated U-shape having a base and sidewalls upstanding from the base defining a receptacle therebetween, wherein an open first side is defined between first side edges of the sidewalls, an open top is defined between upper edges of the sidewalls, and an open second side is defined between second side edges of the sidewalls; and a mounting bracket coupled to the frame; coupling the mounting bracket to the side of a desk; and placing a laptop into the receptacle through one of the open first side, the open second side, and the open top.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising connecting peripheral devices to laptop ports of the laptop through at least one of the open first side and the open second side.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a hinge comprising a first hinge leaf pivotally coupled to a second hinge leaf.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second hinge leaf comprises a plurality of openings, wherein the step of coupling the mounting bracket to the side of the desk comprises driving screws through the plurality of openings and into the desk. 